I. wel·ter ˈweltə(r) verb
( weltered ; weltered ; weltering -t(ə)riŋ ; welters )
Etymology: Middle English welteren; akin to Middle Dutch welteren to roll, wrap, Middle High German welzeren to turn, roll, Old English weltan, wæltan, Old High German walzan, Old Norse velta to roll, turn over, Gothic waltjan to roll, Latin volvere — more at voluble
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to twist or roll one's body (as of a hog in mire) : writhe , toss , tumble
b. : to rise and fall or toss about in or with waves
survivors … weltered in the sea for four days — Time
2. : to become deeply sunk, soaked, or involved
score technical successes, even if their backers welter in red ink — Gilbert Gabriel
3. dialect : to move unsteadily : reel , stagger
4. : to be in a state of turmoil
cabs, carriages and crosstown cars all weltering together — Brander Matthews
transitive verb
obsolete : to cause to roll or overturn
Synonyms: see wallow
II. welter noun
( -s )
1. : a state of wild disorder : turmoil
the long rollers … crash in a welter of foam — American Guide Series: California
the welter of anarchy, murder, civil war, bankruptcy, pestilence, and famine — London Times
: riot
with a welter of color in its own formal flower beds — Alan Edwards
2. : a chaotic mass or jumble
a welter of flailing hoofs and sods of turf — James Reynolds
an atrocious road … that was a welter of mud in the winter — Walter Macken
this section is … a bewildering welter of classical, Arabian, scholastic, and magical ideas — Harvey Graham
III. welter transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably from welt (alteration of welk ) + -er (as in wither )
: wither , wilt
IV. welter noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from welt (II) + -er
: welterweight 1,3
boxed with top-line pro welters and soon they were paying him for working out — Lester Bromberg
V. welter adjective
: of, relating to, or being a race in which welterweights are carried
VI. welt·er noun
( -s )
Etymology: welt (III) + -er
: one that welts ; specifically : a worker who forms or fastens welts on shoes, hosiery, leather goods, or straw-hat brims